Boltless rail-joint connection.



1. B. MAYZEL. BOLTLESS RAIL JOINT CONNECTION.

APPUCATION FILED OCT. 24. I914.

Patented N 0v. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I. B. MAYZEL.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

4 awe/whet [Wm B. Mggza/ N. 4 a m a 1 i r era JOHN B. MAYZEL, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

BOLTLESS RAIL-JOINT CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14:, 1916.

Application filed October 24:, 1914. Serial No. 868,528.

and a base plate without bolts and nuts, and:

in such a manner that the pressure of the rolling stock moving on the rails will cause the connectingparts or elements to bind each other. more efieotively, thus converting the pressure of the rolling stock into a constructive force, acting to maintain, instead of disrupt the joint.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail joint construction which will permit of the completion of a joint in a minimum period of time and with a minimum eX- penditure of labor.

A still further object of the invention is: r the provision of a joint construction with a.

base plate having an integral fish plate and constructed to interlock with the meeting ends of the rails without the. use of connecting bolts and nuts, and a second fish plate constructed to interlock with the base and adapted to hold the meeting ends of the rails united to the base plate. 1

A still further object of the invention is to provide a joint construction in which opposing fish plates are interlocked with the rail ends and connected with the base plate, in such a manner that the pressure of the rolling stock upon the rails is transmitted directly to the fish plates and is utilized to hold the parts united, the fish plates engaging the heads of the rails.

With the above and other objects in view the invention comprises certain new and use ful constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts and elements, clearly described in the following specification and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the improved rail joint, the elements being shown in connected positions. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 1s a perspective View of the base plate and the fish or jolnt plate integral therewith. Fig. 4t is a bottom view, in perspective, of the detachable fish plate. Fig. 5 is another cross sectional View, showing the interlocking connection between the base plate and the detachable fish or joint plate.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, lllustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, 5 designates the base plate, which is designed to lie on the ties under the meetingends of the rails; and which has a fiat upper surface 5 'to receive the flat base of the rail ends A, and B.

The'base plate 5 is formed with an upstanding joint bridging element or fish plate 6, which is constructed integrally with sald base plate by any method desired. The fish or joint bridging element or plate 6 has a base 7, which is adapted to seat on the wings of the rail end bases, and the base portion 7 ofthe fish plate 6 is supported above the base face 5 of the base plate 5 so that a'longitudinal groove or channel 8 is formed between the base portion 7 of the fish plate 6 and the base plate, which has a form corresponding to the cross sectional form of the side flanges of the rail ends, so that one base fiange of each rail end will snugly fit into said groove or channel 8. The fish plate 6 is also formed with a longitudinal extension 7 which projects inwardly from the base portion 7, so as to abut the side faces of the rail webso The upper portion of the fish plate 6 is formed with a longitudinal shelf 9, which has a convex upper surface to engage the under face of the heads of the rail ends, and which projects inwardly to engage the side faces of the rail webs. The central longitudinal portion 6 of the fish plate is spaced by the extension 7 and the shelf 9 from the side faces of the rail webs to provide a longitudinal channel or groove 10, which functions to maintain a spaced two-point contact between the fish plate and the rail ends.

The base plate 5 is formed with a plurality of bolt or lug recesses 11, which are longitudinallyspaced from each other.- The lug recesses 11 do not extend through the base plate. Two bolt or lug recesses 11 are shown, but a greater number may be employed without modifying the basic plan of construction. Each opening is shown sub,-

fish plate.

stantially L-shaped in construction, with parallel side faces, which side faces are also parallel to the direction of thebase flanges V .the rail heads, the pressure exerted by the of the rails. Each recess '11 has. a narrow end portion 11 which constitutes the look ing end, and a Wider end portion 11", which constitutes the entrance end. The inner side of each recess is adapted to lie substantially flush with the side edge portions of the base flanges of the rail ends, and the entrance end of each bolt recess is located nearer the same time the pins 12 are interlocked with the openings at of the rail ends. All points of contact are designed to be snug, so that a non-yielding engagement is provided'between the rail ends and the base and integral The detachable fish plate 14 has a base flange 15, which is designed to snugly seat on the base flanges of the rail ends and on the upper face of the base plate 5, and for this purpose is formed with a longitudinal recess '15 to receive the base flanges of the rail ends. The detachable fish plate 14 is also formed with integral bolt lugs 16 which are shown to be substantially oblong in form and which are designed to snugly fit in the locking ends of the recesses 11, the lugs 16 being just wide enough to enter the openings 11*; The fish plate 14 is also formed with a longitudinal extension 17, which is adapted to engage the side faces of the rail'ends, and with a shelf extension 18, which is adapted to contact with the under faces of the rail heads, the extensions 17 and 18 being spaced 'apart to form a longitudinal channel 19.

After the rail ends are in proper positions against the integral fish plate the detachable fish plate 14 is moved to its proper position. This is done by placing the fish plate 14 over the base plate 5 so that the integral locking lugs .16 will lie directly over the entrance e'ndsll of the recesses 11, when the lugs maybe forced into saidrecesses 11 and the fish 'plate 14 moved longitudinally on the base plate 5 so that the lugs 16 will'enter the locking ends 11 of the openings 11 and;

. be forced thereby into snug locking contact 7 V pair of bolt lugs 20, located on the base porwith'the rail ends.

Each fish plate is formed with an integral tions thereof, and provided-with bolt open- 7 ings 20? extending vertically therethrough.

The openings 20- are adapted to register with openings 21 formed in the base plate 5. Spike recesses 22 are formed in thebase plate 5 on the side which carries the fish plate6. y

By the engagement of the fish plates and position by connections with thebase at the points of least strain and movement, and the connecting boltsrun vertically, so that they positively act tohold the movable parts to: gether, or to hold the joint connection in its normal tractive position. The lugsQO serve to reinforce thefish plates, and act to support said fish plates against lateral body yielding. cooperating openings are completely covered The locking bolt lugs and their 7 by the base portion'of the detachable'fishplate, and are thus protected against the'ele ments and from wilful tampering, The inner longitudinal channels of thefish plates are designed to receive the signal' wires, and

on the lateral pins spring washers 25 are positioned to hold the signal wires in place.

Having described my invention I claim.

and desire to secure by Letters Patent :-1 1

LA rail joint construction consisting of a:

base plate'formedwith an integral fish plate, said fish plate having lateral 'pins rigidly connected thereto, said base' plate having a longitudinal recess, the inneredge portion ofsaid recess being in parellelism with the 'fishplate and thewidth of said u recess being reduced from the inner'edge portion'thereof, said lateral pins being capable of entering the transverse bolt open ings in the rails, and a detachable fish plate formed with an integral lockinglug adapted to enter said recess: and hold said detachable, J

fish plate against the rails and the rails plate and the base plate.

2. A rail joint connection consistingof a base plate adapted'to lie under themeeting ends of a pair of rails and extend laterally thereof and formed with an integral fish plate having integral lateral pins capable of entering the transverse bolt openings of the rail ends, said base plate having longitudinally extending locking recesses spacedfrom each other, each recess extending partly through the base plate and being substantially L-shaped :inplan, the integral fish plate positionable on the base plate and against the si'des 'and onthe base flanges of the rails, said detachable fish plate being formed with integral lockinglugs rectangular in form and adapted to enter said lockrecesses and confine the rail ends be tween said detachable fish plate and said inby the base of the detachable fish plate and tegral fish plate, the locking lugs being of from below by the base plate.

less length than the locking recesses and be- In testimony whereof I affix my signature ing movable lengthwise therein, said lugs bein presence of two witnesses.

5 ing insertible in the wider portions of the JOHN B. MAYZEL.

L-shaped recesses and being then movable lVitnesses: into the narrower portions thereof, said lugs JOSEPH J. OBRIEN, and said recesses being protected from above S. W. COGKRELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

